Water have become a strategic resource of Millennium. Mutual interaction between surface water(SW) and groundwater(GW) is important aspect of water resources management. This is confirmed by documents of international importance(WFD,Horizon 2020,7.EAP,..), as well as domestic initiatives(RIS3,Danube Strategy,Agreements between EC and Slovakia,..). Content of the project is quantification of interaction between SW with low flow velocities and surrounding GW. There will be evaluated the reach of this interaction on occasion of level fluctuations in SW and in the surrounding GW, as well as the impact of bed sediments on interaction rate at sediment variant configuration and consistency. Institute of Hydrology SAS as a presenter of the project is due Structural Funds EU–OP R&D, fitted with modern measuring devices and software, therefore one of the project tasks will be application of the progressive methods for water bodies evaluation and assessment of their use in solving this type of water management problem.

Duration:

1.1.2015 - 31.12.2018

Sensitivity of surface runoff generation in headwater catcements to intensive precipitation and landuse

The project is aimed at development of methodology of process-based modelling of flood runoff formation on hillslopes and catchments. The methodology will allow scientifically based evaluation of the performance of non-structural flood protection and erosion mitigation measures. Parameterization of hydrological processes and environment as well as validation of model outputs will be based on experimental measurements of runoff and erosion formation. Experimental data from the pilot catchment of the Myjava river will be supplemented by results obtained by Institute of Hydrology SAS, Technical university Zvolen, West-Hungarian university Sopron and Technical university Vienna.

Duration:

1.7.2016 - 30.6.2020

Elimination of degradation processes in soil by biodiversity restoring

The purposes of the project "Elimination of degradation processes in soil by soil biodiversity restoration" are focused on the detection and evaluation of the degree of susceptibility to soil to degradation processes, with a particular focus on susceptibility to erosion and compaction which belong to the most important degradation processes significantly decreasing soil fertility in the countries of European Union and threatening the stability of
all components of the environment. The emphasis is placed on sustainable use of land and shall take account of the interaction between soil and water because it is necessary to manage these natural resources carefully and as much as possible to prevent their contamination. The project will use and elaborate innovative methods for assessing the soil properties that have to be adapted to the conditions in soils of Slovakia. Results and assessment will be presented and consulted at international level. Outputs from the project will benefit both: basic research (elaboration of innovative methods and evaluation procedures) as well as the practical application of the methodology by focusing on good agricultural practice for the economical use of land and water, thereby increasing the resistance of soils to degradation effects. This will also contribute significantly to the sustainable use of land.

Hydrological catchment response to rainfall depends on many factors. A key role is played by the soils. Different runoff generation mechanisms act in the basin during a single rainfall event. Floods that occurred in recent years in small basins, stressed the importance of better information on catchment retention capacity. The project will address the runoff generation in different parts of the basin (various geological, pedological, topographic and vegetation conditions ) at a point, hillslope and catchment scale. It involves mapping of the infiltration capacity of the soil surface, the use of geophysical , hydrometric and isotopic measurements during rainfall simulation experiments . The objectives are determination of the rainfall amount and intensity at which the overland flow forms, investigation of the possibility of monitoring the soil water movement during extreme rainfall. The results may help in flood hazard mapping and overland flow generation in small catchments.

Duration:

1.1.2015 - 31.12.2018

Identification of changes in hydrological regime of streams and mutual relation of extreme hydrologic events in complex river system of the Danube basin

The project is focused on the study and analysis of the changes in hydrological regime of selected streams in the Danube basin. Using appropriate mathematical methods there will be identified the change, variability, probabilistic properties and temporal parameters of significant historical floods and droughts. Risks of the simultaneously occurring extreme events will be examined by two-dimensional statistical analysis on the main stream and tributaries. Results of the project provide comprehensive information on whether and to what extent there are changes in the hydrological regime of flows in the Danube basin, and how the hydrological characteristics may affect the size and course of extreme hydrological situations. The knowledge gained will be useful in meeting the objectives of the Danube Strategy and fit the thematic priority RIS3 "Agriculture and Environment".

Inherent for soils in natural-state ecosystems usually are superposed overlying horizons with low mineral matter component, formed mostly by different plant litter at different stages of biochemical decomposition and mechanical aggregation.
Considering that more than 50% of volume of such materials are created by organic matter, they have specific physical properties (PhP) (high porosity, very low bulk density, peculiar structure and texture, frequent hydrophobicity, etc.), which significantly influence their hydraulic characteristics. Their water-retention capacity depends on the level of decomposition.
Typical is also water repellency caused by specific organic compounds (mostly waxes) or living organisms (mostly hypha).
The preferential lateral transport of water has been observed in these materials. The objective of the project is to describe the superposed histic horizons on selected locations with respect to their structure and other PhP and to quantify their influence on the initiation of hydrological processes like infiltration, water retention and runoff generation.

Duration:

1.1.2015 - 31.12.2018

Localisation of accidental point sources of pollution in watercourses based on-line monitoring data

The aim of the proposed research project is the enlargement of the knowledge and practical contribution to
solving a pollution source localization based on the time course of the pollutant concentration in the monitored
profile of the river. The prevailing majority of existing simulation models is able to simulate the pollution spreading
in the river flow direction only. In current advancing monitoring technologies a task can occur in which the
monitored pollution time courses in the cross-flow profile are known, but the pollution source itself is unknown.
The goal of such task is simply determination – source localisation (inverse problem). A practical solution of the
defined inverse task may be helpful in solving similar tasks in water management practice in identifying sources
of accidental pollution. The project also envisages the development of theoretical as well as practical procedures
(incl. SW) for solving the above defined inverse problem.

Duration:

1.1.2016 - 31.12.2019

New possibilities of use of drainage canal systems with taking into account the protection and use of a landscape

A drainage canal, as an artificial multifunctional anthropogenic element in a landscape, has its other specific functions, which were not paid attention yet. The reason of construction of canals was the intensification of agricultural production and discharge of inland waters. Its construction characters are analogical to a stream. These characters must be re-evaluated from the point of their functional use under concrete conditions of an area.
Due to the change of agricultural policy, further construction and maintenance of drainage canals practically does not exist and the lifetime of connected technical segments is getting to the end. Secondary drainage canals are gradually overgrowth, woody vegetation develops and canals start to stop to fulfil their main function. Similar situation appears in main drainage canals, moreover, their use is bound to capacity of pumping stations. Primary and secondary drainage canals are important connective landscape elements and serve also as a refugium, or biocentre for several kinds of organisms. In the canal network there appear significant successive processes. Based on re-evaluation of present conditions of drainage canals there will be elaborated proposal of measures for improvement of their primary functions and proposal of their multifunctional use. New possibilities of use of drainage canals are important from the point of view of development and stability of biodiversity in a landscape.

Soil water repellency (SWR) or hydrophobicity contributes to many environmental problems, including for example, flooding, accelerated soil erosion, nutrient leaching, pollution of water ways, and reduced groundwater recharge. SWR is caused by organic compounds derived from living or decomposing plants or microorganisms.
The probability of occurrence of SWR tends to increase in dry periods and decreases or completely disappears during extended wet periods, i.e., it can be a function of proneness to drought.
The aim of our study is to estimate the relationships between the persistence, severity and index of SWR and the drought-proneness factor (meteorological drought index), which determine the severity of the climatic drought.
Except for meteorological drought we will evaluate also corresponding minimal soil moisture values. We will analyze experimental localities, which will represent different soil types and different types of vegetation.

Unsaturated soil zone is a triple-phase system in lithosphere, limited by soil surface and groundwater level. From systemic point of view, unsaturated soil zone is one of the sub-systems forming the system Atmosphere(A)–Plant cover(PC)–Unsaturated soil zone(UZ)–Groundwater(GW). UZ interacts with the other subsystems within the system A–PC–UZ–GW. The intensity of soil interaction processes depends on hydrophysical and hydraulic properties of soil, which are greatly defined by soil texture. Interactions cause temporal and spatial changes in unsaturated soil water regime elements. These changes form unsaturated soil water regime and can be observed in the change of soil water storage. The aim of the project is to quantify the influence of soil texture on unsaturated soil water regime. The project shall quantify the development of unsaturated soil interactions with the surrounding sub-systems of the system A–PC–UZ–GW. Newly constructed state-of-art technology will be used for the purposes of the project.